Why do we use neem and tulsi plant to keep mosquitoes away from our home?<\/p>\n
Many plants produce volatile or toxic compounds as a way of deterring herbivores and plant-eating insects. Many of these compounds are also repellent to insects of the order Diptera, which includes mosquitoes and many different kinds of flies, possibly suggesting a plant-eating ancestor, or a conserved recognition of toxic chemicals. As the chemicals are more readily released when the plant is damaged, hanging bruised insect-repelling plants in the house is a traditional method for deterring mosquito bites. Alternatively, the plant can be burned, dispersing the repellent chemicals.<\/p>\n
The neem tree, also known as Indian Lilac, is a fast-growing tree native to the Indian subcontinent, known for its insect-repelling properties, among a variety of other uses. The active ingredient in the neem plant is thought to be azadirachtin, and a large number of similar chemicals. The effectiveness of neem as a mosquito repellent varies depending on the method of use \u2013 field studies have returned protection levels of 94.2% (by dispersing the oil with a kerosene lamp), 76% (from burning the leaves) and 56.75% (by applying 2% neem oil to a person). Neem is used preferentially over some other preparations, as it is non-toxic and biodegradable, so can be applied directly to the skin, or spread over crops.<\/p>\n
Tulsi or tulasi is also known as holy basil, hence its Latin name Ocimum sanctum<\/em>. This plant is also commonly used as a mosquito repellent, though it has also been investigated as an antibacterial and an anti-inflammatory agent, among other potential medicinal uses. Few studies have been conducted measuring the efficacy of tulsi as a mosquito repellent, though in one study the burning of its leaves was sufficient to keep away 80% of mosquitoes. It is also known to be an effective larvicidal of several mosquito species.<\/p>\n Many plants produce volatile or toxic compounds as a way of deterring herbivores and plant-eating insects. Many of these compounds are…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1942,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nReferences<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"